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Job Openings Top 10 Million For First Time Ever

August 9, 2021

The number of open jobs in the U.S. jumped to more than 10 million in June, the highest on record, as the American workforce continues its uneven recovery following last year’s economic shutdown.

There were 10.1 million open jobs on the last day of June, according to the Labor Department. That is up from 9.2 million in May. Economists polled by Dow Jones were expecting a slight drop to 9.1 million openings.

The rate of layoffs and other discharges remained unchanged for the month. This means the bulk of the openings are due to increased bargaining power that has seen workers voluntarily leave work or turn down offers, feeling they can secure higher wages elsewhere.

The hospitality and leisure sector leads the way in unfilled positions, with the industry reporting 1.6 million open jobs. In the healthcare and social assistance industry, there are 1.5 million openings.

Despite an unemployment rate that remains above 5%, employers continue to report difficulty in filling positions. In the most recent jobs report, the Labor Department reported there were 8.7 million Americans looking for work, far less than the number of open positions.

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